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Chapter 9 combat training and a couple of extra hands
"Welcome young heroes in training to your first live combat exercise!!!"boomed all might
His voice filled the area, almost vibrating in the air around them. His enthusiasm contrasted sharply with Chase, who stood beside him with the calm poise of a man used to keeping chaos from spiraling.
"Alright listen up you wannabe newbies were separating you into teams of 2 heroes and villains. Don't do any stupid shit like trying to kill your classmates because you're hot headed and forget this is training."said Chase in he's usually snarky way
The screen behind them flickered to life as Chase tapped his wrist console.
The randomized teams appeared:
Team Villains: Midoriya Izuku & Tokoyami Fumikage
Team Heroes: Bakugo Katsuki & Iida Tenya
A murmur rippled through Class 1-A—not shock, but the kind of focused energy that came right before something genuinely
exciting.
Nerissa leaned close to Momo, grinning like she was watching the best part of a movie. "Izuku and Tokoyami against
Bakugo and ida? Oh, this is going to be good."
Momo simply folded her arms, observing the matchup with thoughtful interest. "It's an efficient combination on both sides. This will be… instructive."
Shōko nodded once. "Iida won't approve of Bakugo's approach."
Izuku felt a small pulse of tension and excitement wind through his chest. When Tokoyami stepped up beside him, cloak shifting with the faintest movement, he dipped his head respectfully.
"Midoriya," Tokoyami said, his tone steady and composed. "I will follow your lead."
Dark Shadow peeked from behind his shoulder, shy as ever. "Um… hello again."
Izuku smiled. "Good to be working with you."
Bakugo, across the field, cracked his knuckles, the familiar edge in his eyes—but softer now, sharpened by determination instead of old resentment. "Don't hold back, Deku," he called out, voice carrying easily over the training area.
"I'm not gonna."Izuku pulled his hood up, the neon-blue lines along his suit glowing faintly as shadows trailed at his feet. "I wasn't planning to," he said, his voice steady.
"All right!" All Might roared, clapping his hands with enough force to startle half of Class 1-A. "Villains will proceed to the Building and set up their defenses! Heroes will remain here until the timer begins!"
Chase stepped forward then, hands behind his back, posture slouched. "And remember," he said dryly, "collapsing a building does not count as a tactical advantage. Hah Nor does it impress insurance companies."he said chuckling to himself
Bakugo scoffed, Iida straightened like he'd just been briefed by the military, and the class collectively nodded at Chase's warning with varying degrees of concern.
Izuku turned toward Tokoyami.
The entrance to Building C loomed ahead—dark concrete, narrow halls, and shadows pooling in every corner. A perfect battlefield for the two of them, if they planned correctly.
Tokoyami followed his gaze. "This terrain favors us," he said. "If we move carefully it will aid us well."
Izuku nodded, already thinking three steps ahead. "We'll make it work."
They walked toward the building, disappearing into the dim interior as the massive steel doors slid shut behind them.
The air inside was cool and quiet. Perfect.
The battle had begun long before the timer ever would.
The Building swallowed them the moment the doors shut, the echo of the metal sliding into place rolling through the dim interior like a low warning.
The overhead lights were sparse—only a few long bulbs flickering along the ceiling, casting uneven shadows across the concrete floor.
Izuku's eyes adjusted immediately. This environment felt natural to him. Comforting, even. Shadows clung to corners and pooled beneath pipes and debris, familiar and responsive.
Tokoyami walked beside him, steps light and steady, cloak brushing softly along the floor. He moved with the quiet confidence of someone who belonged in darkness just as much as Izuku did.
"We should choose our battleground carefully," Tokoyami murmured, voice calm. "Bakugo will rush in without hesitation. Iida will not. Their approaches will conflict."
Time ticked by until eventually they heard all might over the ear pice's
"BATTLE TRIAL—START!"
Izuku stood, tension sharpening into focus. "They're coming straight in."
Tokoyami stepped beside him, wings spreading slightly. "We meet them here, then fall back as planned?"
Izuku nodded. "Exactly."
He drew in a breath, shadows whispering eagerly at his heels.
"Let's begin."
Kaelros uncoiled, crouching low.
Dark Shadow sank behind Tokoyami, glowing faintly with nervous anticipation.
And down the corridor, muffled but growing louder, Izuku heard the echo of running engines—
Iida's.
A beat later, the sharp crack and roar of Bakugo's explosive palms.
Izuku lowered his stance.
Eyes sharp.
Heart steady.
Shadows gathering around him like a living tide.
---
The echo of Iida's engines grew sharper, bouncing off the concrete walls like rapid, metallic thunder. Bakugo's explosions followed a heartbeat later, each one cracking the air with violent precision. The combined rhythm made it sound like a storm closing in.
Izuku's breathing steadied. His stance dropped, cloak settling around him, neon-blue lines dimming until they were nothing more than faint threads. Shadows stirred restlessly around his feet, responding to the rising tension like they shared his pulse.
Tokoyami shifted into position beside him, cloak brushing softly against the wall. His posture was controlled, grounded, wings angled just enough to widen his silhouette. Dark Shadow hovered behind him, faintly trembling but present—glowing in that soft, timid way that suggested fear and resolve tangled together.
"They're moving fast," Tokoyami murmured.
"I know," Izuku replied. "Let them."
Izuku expanded his senses, letting the shadows spill out ahead of him like tendrils drifting through water. The darkness crawled across the floor, up the walls, and around the corners — subtle, quiet, undetectable unless you knew the shadows had a will of their own.
Kaelros rose beside him in a fluid, silent motion. The dragon's form was compact, streamlined, each movement precise as it crouched low to the ground. Its bright eyes locked on the corridor ahead, wings tucking tight to its sides for stealth.
"I'll take Bakugo first," Izuku said quietly. "He won't hesitate."
Tokoyami nodded once. "Then I will intercept Iida. His momentum is linear. If I break his line, he will lose pace."
Dark Shadow whispered, "H-he's very fast… but I'll try…"
"You'll do fine," Izuku reassured him. "Just hold him for a moment."
Shadows pooled outward from his feet, creating the faintest ripple—a trap no one would see unless they were looking for it. The kind of trap Bakugo, with his forward momentum and explosive rush style, would blast straight into without thinking.
The building shook as another explosion tore through the hallway.
Bakugo's voice followed, sharp and furious.
"DEKU! YOU BETTER NOT BE HIDING LIKE A COWARD!"
Izuku closed his eyes for a brief moment. He let the noise pass through him, let the fire in Bakugo's tone slide off like water over steel.
When he opened them, his voice was steady.
"I'm not hiding."
He stepped forward just as Bakugo burst through the haze—hair wild, eyes blazing, gauntlets sparking with bright ignition. He propelled himself with a precise explosion, closing the distance in a blink.
Bakugo's heel landed on the shadows
Just as his foot touched down he felt resistance
His expression shifted from fury to sharp surprise.
"What the—?!"
The shadows surged upward, gripping at his ankle like solidified ink.
Izuku didn't waste the moment.
He activated 10% OFA, the power spreading cleanly through him and he launched forward. His kick struck Bakugo's guard with enough force to send him crashing sideways, impacting the wall with a grunt.
Bakugo laughed breathlessly.
"So that's how it's gonna be?! Fine!"
He blasted off the wall with a recoil explosion, sending a shockwave down the hallway. Izuku dug his heels in, shadows bracing around him like anchors and coming up to shield him from the blast.
Behind them, Iida appeared at the far end of the corridor—torso leaned forward, engines screaming as he accelerated in a straight, disciplined charge. His speed blurred his outline, creating a faint blue stream behind him.
Tokoyami stepped calmly into his path.
"Iida," he said, voice even. "You shall not pass."
Dark Shadow surged forth—hesitant but obedient—and swelled enough to block the narrow passage. Iida's eyes widened behind his glasses, and he pivoted sharply, engines firing as he tried to slip around the obstruction.
Tokoyami was faster than he looked.
A quick step.
A clean hit.
Iida was forced sideways, momentum disrupted.
Meanwhile, Bakugo tore back toward Izuku with a roar, palm igniting in a brilliant flash. Izuku sidestepped the explosion, feeling the heat whip past his cheek before countering with a sliding strike angled low, using shadows to stabilize his footing.
Bakugo snarled, "STOP DODGING AND FIGHT ME FOR REAL!"
Izuku met his eyes, calm despite the chaos.
"I am fighting you. You're just not keeping up."
Kaelros darted in then, wings slicing through the dust and debris in a sweeping arc that forced Bakugo to adjust his trajectory mid-blast. He landed hard, boots skidding, teeth clenched.
"That—THING—" Bakugo spat, wiping sweat from his brow, "—is gonna get punted the second I'm done with you!"
Kaelros hissed.
Izuku stepped forward again, cloak shifting around his legs like a quiet tide.
"You won't get the chance."
Behind him, Tokoyami held Iida in a deadlock—Dark Shadow forming a trembling but solid barrier as Iida strained, engines firing, trying to find a gap in Tokoyami's controlled stance.
The battlefield was theirs.
Time to finish it.
"Tokoyami," Izuku called without looking back, "push him toward the northern hall."
Tokoyami responded immediately. "Understood."
Dark Shadow followed his orders to block the path, blocking Iida's escape route with surprising agility.
Bakugo heard the command and snarled, "Like HELL I'm letting you coordinate!"
He launched at Izuku again.
Izuku countered with a well timed punch
His palm struck Bakugo's forearm, redirecting his blast upward.
Shadows snapped around Bakugo's leg again, Kaelros sweeping in to push him back into a support pillar.
Izuku acted fast, restraining him with shadows binding all of him except his wrist. He then ran over and secured him with capture tape taking him out of the fight.
At the same time as he captured Bakugo
Iida stumbled into the narrow northern corridor exactly as Izuku planned.
Igris rose from the shadowed floor behind him—massive, armored, quiet as death.his Massive sword already pointed at lida's neck.
Iida froze mid-stride.
Class 1-A fell silent outside.
Izuku's voice cut through the dust and tension, steady and certain:" secure the objective."
Kaelros coiled beside him.
Tokoyami stepped forward and wrapped the capture tape around lida
Dark Shadow glowed with timid pride.
And the speakers thundered:
"VILLAIN TEAM WINS!"
---
Training Field Beta, after the match
All Might stood with his arms crossed, feet planted wide, expression a perfect mix of enthusiasm and authority. The dust from Building C still hung in the air behind the students as they assembled in a line.
All Might:
"WELL DONE, EVERYONE! Now—allow me to give my evaluation!"
His hand shot out toward Iida.
"youngIida! Excellent speed and discipline! You demonstrated outstanding mobility and adherence to mission objective!"
Iida straightened immediately.
"Thank you, sir!"
"But you were too predictable! Straight-line movement makes you easy to intercept! Work on adaptability!"
Iida bowed again.
"I will improve!"
Bakugo clicked his tongue, expecting criticism.
"young Bakugo! Tremendous offensive power and relentless pressure! Your instincts are top-tier!"
Bakugo smirked—
until All Might leaned in slightly.
"BUT! You let your emotions take control! Charging in without coordination gave the villains the advantage!"
Bakugo's eye twitched.
"Tch… whatever."
Tokoyami stood composed, cloak still settling behind him.
"young Tokoyami! Superb control of Dark Shadow under pressure! Your defensive positioning was textbook perfect!"
Dark Shadow peeked out nervously.
"T-thank you…"
"But your range is limited in tight spaces. Continue training, fine control and area control."
Tokoyami nodded deeply.
"Understood."
All Might turned toward Izuku with an expression that softened slightly—pride behind the hero façade.
"Young Midoriya! Brilliant tactics and battlefield awareness! You used the environment, your partner's strengths, and your own abilities with perfect balance!"
Izuku bowed his head briefly, cheeks warming.
"Your traps and misdirection were professional level! And your coordination with Tokoyami? Excellent!"
Izuku exhaled quietly.
"Thank you, All Might."
Then All Might straightened, voice booming again.
"HOWEVER! You held back. I could tell. Don't underestimate your opponents—OR your teammates!"
Izuku's breath caught for a moment—but All Might didn't push further.
Just a warning.
Just awareness.
All Might planted a fist on his hip.
"IN SUMMARY! The Villain Team demonstrated superior teamwork and strategy—THEREFORE THEY WIN!"
A wave of applause rose from Class 1-A.
---
The training field was quiet in the late evening, the sun burning low along the horizon.
Long shadows stretched across the cracked asphalt, gathering at Izuku's feet as though waiting for him.
He stood alone with Kaelros circling overhead and Igris silently beside him.
Training had ended two hours ago—everyone else had gone back to Heights Alliance—but Izuku still felt the echo of the battle trial tugging at his mind.
He closed his eyes, replaying it.
Two partners.
One knight.
One dragon.
Enough for a duel.
Enough for combat.
Not enough for rescue.
Not enough for chaos.
Not enough for saving everyone.
He breathed in slowly.
"I need… more," he whispered to himself. "I need numbers. I need reach. I need… something between Igris and simple shadows."
He crouched, pressing one hand to the ground.
Shadows rippled outward in a widening circle, reacting to his intent like water stirred by wind.
Kaelros landed lightly beside him, wings folding.
Igris stepped forward, posture shifting—listening, ready.
Izuku whispered, "Igris… could you lead more than one? A unit? A squad?"
The knight tilted his head, helm glinting faintly in the dying light.Then he bowed, slow and deliberate.
A simple, silent message:
Yes. I will lead as you wish.
Izuku swallowed, nerves tightening into excitement.
"Alright," he murmured. "Let's try."
He spread his fingers into the shadow pool.
Immediately, the darkness responded—curling, twisting, rising in wisps.
This felt different from forming Kaelros or Igris.
It felt… scalable.
Like dipping his hands into a deeper part of the well.
He inhaled and pushed—hard.
"Rise."
The shadows shivered.
Thickened.
Then burst upward in thin, humanoid shapes—one, two, three, four—
20 total.
Each figure stood roughly chest-height to Izuku, armor forming in smooth plates over their bodies.
Helmets shaped after Igris's design, but simpler.
Eyes glowing dimly—no individual personality, only uniform loyalty.
For a moment, none of them moved.
Then—
FWUMP.
All ten dropped to one knee at once bowing deeply to izuku almost like in reverence of him.
Izuku's breath caught.
They weren't mindless.
They weren't wild.
They were kneeling
—first to him…
—and then, as if in perfect disciplined awareness, they turned and saluted Igris.
Igris straightened with unmistakable pride.
His chestplate brightened with inner shadow-light.
The lesser knights looked up at Izuku again—trembling slightly, not from fear but from a strange, excited eagerness, like children trying desperately to impress a teacher.
Izuku blinked.
"You guys… understand me?"
One of the lesser knights puffed its chest out and struck a tiny fist against it, producing a metallic tink sound.
Two more straightened their helmets like trying to look taller.
Another gave a silent, aggressive nod.
Izuku couldn't help laughing—quiet but genuine.
"They're… hype gremlins," he whispered.
The lesser knights all perked at the sound of his laugh, straightening even more with visible enthusiasm.
Kaelros lowered his snout, sniffing one experimentally.
The knight froze, then slowly raised a thumbs-up gesture with mechanical awkwardness.
Izuku nearly choked holding back laughter.
He rose to his feet, marveling at the ten kneeling soldiers.
"A rescue unit," he murmured. "Lightweight, fast, coordinated. Enough to lift rubble, block paths, carry civilians…"
The shadows pulsed faintly beneath him, waiting.
Izuku nodded once.
"Alright," he said, voice steady. "All of you—stand."
The lesser knights rose in perfect unison.
A thrill ran through Izuku's chest.
He stepped back, glancing at Igris. "They're yours to command."
Igris turned toward the squad and raised one armored hand.
The legion snapped to attention.
Their helmets dipped, their shadows sharpened, and the faint glow in their eyes brightened—
Absolute loyalty.
Absolute discipline.
A true army.
Izuku felt his heart pound with possibility.
"Looks like we're building something big," he whispered.
Kaelros coiled beside him.
Igris remained proud and still.
The 20 lesser knights stood ready, shoulders squared, ready to serve.
Izuku exhaled, slightly overwhelmed in the best way.
"Welcome to the team," he said softly.
The shadow legion straightened as one.